asked the Minister for Finance to what extent the programme outlined in the Investment Plan 1981 is now being implemented.

Implementation of the various programmes provided for in the Investment Plan 1981 is under way.

Comprehensive arrangements have been made for monitoring progress with the implementation of the plan. Departments having responsibility for overseeing the different programmes have been asked to provide my Department with quarterly profiles of plan implementation, with special reference to jobs provided. Progress on the ground, as well as actual expenditure and employment, will be monitored by reference to these profiles, so that corrective action can be taken where a departure from plan might otherwise occur. The first comprehensive review of the different aspects of plan implementation is not yet completed, but the Exchequer returns for capital expenditure indicate that the plan is on course.

Could the Minister please speak up? I did not catch one word that the Minister said.

I have heard nothing of what the Minister said. He is muttering.

I am sorry, Deputy. I did not intend that.

I withdraw my application, so.

Implementation of the various programmes provided for in the Investment Plan 1981 is under way.

Comprehensive arrangements have been made for monitoring progress with the implementation of the plan. Departments having responsibility for overseeing the different programmes have been asked to provide my Department with quarterly profiles of plan implementation, with special reference to jobs provided. Progress on the ground, as well as actual expenditure and employment, will be monitored by reference to these profiles, so that corrective action can be taken where a departure from plan might otherwise occur. The first comprehensive review of the different aspects of plan implementation is not yet completed, but the Exchequer returns for capital expenditure indicate that the plan is on course.

Is it not correct to say that this plan was issued by the Government contemporaneously, or more or less so, with the budget at the end of January and has not more than a quarter of a year gone by since then? Where is the quarterly report for the first three months of this investment plan?

I have explained to the Deputy that the expenditure is on target. Perhaps I should further explain what has been decided, that, first of all, we have a Cabinet sub-committee. To provide the necessary information for that committee, my Department have arranged, through the planning units in all the various Departments responsible for overseeing the various projects in the plan, that quarterly reports should be furnished showing the plan progress for each quarter of the year and the main capital projects set out in the plan. An expenditure and employment creation profile for each quarter will also be provided. Actual physical progress on each of these projects for each quarter of the year will be provided in due course, together with actual job expenditure and job creation figures.

Does the Minister think that that is an answer to my question? Why, with more than three months gone by since the publication of this plan, has no quarterly profile yet been provided?

The quarterly profile to which the Deputy refers is at present being prepared.